The Tigers Take Game 1

We have reached the bitter end. A great many fans have left the building. On a night characterized by A’s futility, this is a saga of grown men stranded. They were out there, all over the bases, but as we head to the ninth inning of Game 1, the A’s only run has scored on a grounder back to the mound.

Now it’s the Oakland ninth. Joe Blanton has just made his first appearance of the postseason, working a quiet top half, and Nick Swisher is leading off against the Tigers’ closer, Todd Jones.

It hasn’t been much of a night for Swisher. A .190 hitter with runners in scoring position this season, he left four runners on base over the course of two at-bats in the middle innings. Now he has walked, however, offering just a tiny ray of hope.

Jones should be fined for this, by the way, and heavily. You’re out there with a four-run lead and you walk the first guy? Why not just offer him some fried chicken and ribs, while you’re at it? Throw a strike, for crying out loud. I’ll bet manager Jim Leyland is fuming in the Detroit dugout, and he should be.

One out now — Marco Scutaro has popped out harmlessly. Just as quickly, D’Angelo Jimenez grounds out to second. Jason Kendall represents the A’s last stand, he flies out, the Tigers take a 5-1 victory, and there went Game 1. Stay tuned for a postgame wrapup.